Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex

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Called “the most influential Ukrainian book for the 15 years of independence,” Oksana Zabuzhko’s Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex became an international phenomenon, topping the Ukrainian bestseller list throughout the 1990s. The novel features a sharp-tongued poet narrating her experiences in first-person streams of thought. As a visiting professor of Slavic studies at Harvard, she grapples with American values while yearning to escape Ukrainian conventions. After a painful breakup, she reflects on her lover’s abusive behavior and the power dynamics at play, revealing the cultural chains that have defined her as a Ukrainian woman. This introspection challenges her country’s culture of fear and repression during its struggle for independence. Zabuzhko, a prominent Ukrainian poet, literary critic, and translator, emerges as a powerful new voice in Ukrainian literature with this debut novel. The work captivates readers with its innovative form and exploration of universal themes like love and creativity, intertwined with uniquely Ukrainian elements. First published in 1996, it sparked controversy and catapulted the author to national fame, remaining a bestseller for over a decade and establishing her as one of the few authors in Ukraine to earn a living solely from writing.